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Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

$274.29 per semester credit hour for Texas students!

Ready to get started in the exciting and ever-growing criminal justice field? UTEP’s unique Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice combines theory, research and practice to prepare you for rewarding careers in law enforcement, courts, the corrections system and social service agencies. This degree will pave the way for you to

Obtain wide exposure to a variety of contemporary criminal justice issues and methods by which to solve problems

Study crime and victimization as well as the methods with which society responds to it

Improve critical thinking and writing skills as they pertain to criminal behavior and the justice system

Enter law school or a master’s program

Our experienced faculty will prepare you for law school, graduate school or a rewarding career in:

Federal, state or local law enforcement departments; Department of Homeland Security (Border Patrol, Field Operations, Customs and Immigration Services, Secret Service)

FAQs

Why online?

Our online programs are tailor-made for working professionals. Earn your degree without sacrificing work or family commitments. Access your classes and coursework from your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, wherever you are!

Will I get the same education as I would on campus?

Yes! The same experts who teach on campus teach this course online and the material covered is the same as well. The degree you earn is still a UTEP degree—the only thing missing is the commute!

How do I apply?

Fill out the form at the top of this page and one of our enrollment counselors will contact you and help you through the online application and enrollment process. Have questions? They’ll be able to answer them for you!

Why criminal justice?

In today’s world, educated professionals in the corrections, legal and law enforcement fields are crucial to help shape laws, make sound ethical decisions and effect positive social change.

Can I use previous credits?

Yes! During the enrollment process, you must submit transcripts from previous degree programs from other accredited colleges. We will review them and see if we can apply them toward your degree program credit hours.

Ready to learn more? Request more information today and speak with an enrollment counselor to get started!

Statement of Accreditation Statusas of December 2, 2015

Wichita State University

The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.

Accreditation Information

Most Recent History with the Commission

09/10/2007: Comprehensive Evaluations - Continued Accreditation

General Institutional Information

This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope. The information is self-reported by the institution through the annual Institutional Update to the Commission. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s web site noted above.

About HLC and Accreditation

Institutions of higher education in the United States seek accreditation through two types of accreditation agencies, institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation agencies are classified as regional and national.

National accreditation associations focus on certain types of colleges such as trade and technical institutions, or religious colleges such as seminaries and bible colleges.

Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the U.S. in which regional agencies operate. The regional accreditation agencies have similar standards for accrediting colleges and universities.

Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.

The Higher Learning Commission is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree granting institutions of higher education that are based in the 19-state North Central region of the United States. Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status.

HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of guiding values. The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 1,300 educators from institutions of higher education serve as peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. Peer reviewers also serve on committees that make up the decision-making bodies of the accreditation process.

Evaluation Process

HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets standards and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institution’s are required to complete an annual filing of the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices on institutional change.

Peer reviewers trained in HLC’s standards evaluate institution’s demonstration of whether they meet the Criteria for Accreditation and make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies.

Institutional Actions Council (Decision-Making Body)

The Board of Trustees appoints and authorizes members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) to conduct reviews and take actions on the majority of accreditation recommendations. IAC members consist of representatives of academic institutions accredited by HLC, as well as members of the public. Detailed information on IAC processes is found in HLC’s policies on decision-making.

Public Information

In the interest of being transparent, HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.

Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. Beginning July 2013, in all cases of issuing continued accreditation, placing an institution on or resolving a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing and the institution’s status in HLC’s online directory is updated. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued in cases of sanction to provide the public more detail of the issues leading to sanction.

Complaints Against HLC Accredited Institutions

Each year, HLC receives a number of complaints about institutions from faculty, students, and other parties. HLC has established a clear distinction between individual grievances and complaints that appear to involve broad institutional practices. Where a complaint does raise issues regarding the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Criteria of Accreditation, HLC forwards the complaint to the institution and requests a formal response.

Complainants with specific claims related to the Americans with Disabilities Act or employment discrimination should seek prior review of such claims by the appropriate federal agencies. HLC may ask for the report or record of such review in determining whether it can proceed to consider the claim as a complaint related to compliance with the Criteria for Accreditation.